The Newton Railers opened up their play in the 70th Tournament of Champions with a very poor shooting performance in a loss to the host-Dodge City Red Demons.
The Railers and head coach Don Cameron discussed their cold shooting hands most of the day Friday and just before the game, the mentor gave his players a message that helped them in their 72-53 victory over Wichita South in a loser's bracket contest: relax.
“Dodge had something to do with (our bad shooting) and I don't know if we were jittery at the start,” Cameron said. “We talked about it all day and before the game; I just told the team to go out and play basketball.”
The Railers (4-6) were 27-of-55 from the field against the Titans with four players scoring in double figures. Austin Krogmeir, Gunar Drinnen and Brenden Downey scored 13 points apiece, while Grant Walker added 11 in the win.
Only one player did any real damage for the Titans (1-10) against the Railers in the contest: Jordan Moore scored 20 points and grabbed 23 rebounds to record a double-double.
The Railers opened the game with a 10-4 run and never trailed in the contest on the way to leading 13-8 by the end of the stanza (seven points coming off turnovers). Newton was able to increase the lead to 31-20 by halftime with Drinnen leading Newton with nine points and Krogmeir adding eight.
Newton closed out the game with a 25-point fourth quarter to complete the rout.
The Railers will face Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division I rival Derby in the fourth place game at 3 p.m. today; while Wichita South plays Buhler in the seventh place matchup at 1 p.m.
WICHITA SOUTH (53) – Omar Martin 2-9 1-2 5, Damien Jones 0-3 0-0 0, Shelby Harris 1-4 0-0 3, Jailyn White 0-0 0-0 0, Malik Adkins 2-2 2-3 6, Matt Donart 1-2 0-0 2, Kyle Bowers 1-2 0-2 2, Kaden Griffin 1-2 1-4 3, Zach Keiswetter 3-8 1-2 9, Jordan Moore 7-16 6-8 20, Hunter Rogers 1-7 1-2 3. Totals 19-53 12-23 53.
NEWTON (72) – Austin Krogmeir 4-6 2-2 13, Jacob Wright 2-3 1-2 5, Braeden Morrow 0-1 0-0 0, Gunar Drinnan 5-11 2-2 13, Grant Walker 3-6 3-3 11, Josh Carlgren 1-6 0-0 2, Jack Kingsley 1-3 0-0 2, Brenden Downey 6-10 1-1 13, Lane Pauls 2-4 0-0 6, Josh Robinson 3-5 1-1 7. Totals 27-55 10-11 72.
South 8 12 15 18 – 53
Newton 13 18 16 25 – 72
Three-point baskets – South 3 (Harris 1, Keiswetter 2), Newton 8 (Krogmeir 3, Drinnen 1, Walker 2, Pauls 2). Records – South 1-10, Newton 4-6.